My grandfather installed a valve in order to drain the pond if necessary. It was buried level with the bottom of the pond, which required an access point below ground level for that time period. He placed bricks around the valve handle in order to protect it from build up. Over the years, the brick walls grew taller and the hole filled in with leaves and dirt. Fortunately, he only stacked the bricks; no cement. I think it topped out at eight brick high; that's adjusting for the small cinder block.
The next two pictures show how high the ground level rose over the years. It can be seen by the discoloration along the bottom of the fence. Yet, this does NOT truly show how much build up really occurred. That will be seen in one of the pictures further below. Note the greenery pushing between the slats.
My grandmother wanted some bamboo. Reminded her of Japan, I guess. But bamboo is very invasive, and, not know of clumping bamboo, my grandfather buried this barrel in order to contain it. Didn't work. The barrel essentially became a dead zone. Water got trapped in it - no holes, you see - and everything in it died. When I dug it out, it was filled with goopy dirt.
The next two pictures show how high the ground level rose over the years. It can be seen by the discoloration along the bottom of the fence. Yet, this does NOT truly show how much build up really occurred. That will be seen in one of the pictures further below. Note the greenery pushing between the slats.
My grandmother wanted some bamboo. Reminded her of Japan, I guess. But bamboo is very invasive, and, not know of clumping bamboo, my grandfather buried this barrel in order to contain it. Didn't work. The barrel essentially became a dead zone. Water got trapped in it - no holes, you see - and everything in it died. When I dug it out, it was filled with goopy dirt.
This picture shows the TRUE height of the build up from the inside. The left arrow is actually pointing to the base of the corner post anchoring the chain-link fence on the outside of the wooden fence. It's base is at least SIX INCHES below the bottom of the wooden fence. And I believe that the base of the steel post might even have about an inch or two of build up on IT.
I'm not sure why he buried the plastic sheeting. Maybe to line the barrel. Notice all of the bamboo? Yeah, all of it came from outside of the barrel. It has escaped into the wild.
Yep, there's a chain link fence under there. When we moved in, this fence was already installed. My grandfather put up the privacy fence. What I don't understand, the gate, which I've already removed, had a padlock on it.
Note the shovel head. Even with the wooden fence in the way, that much dirt built up on the OPPOSITE side. Not sure how I want to deal with this section, though.
Suburban Hermit of Fayetteville signing off.
I'm not sure why he buried the plastic sheeting. Maybe to line the barrel. Notice all of the bamboo? Yeah, all of it came from outside of the barrel. It has escaped into the wild.
Also, today, I started work on cleaning the shrubbery from the other side of the fence. I can only say that one neglects nature at one's own peril.
Note the shovel head. Even with the wooden fence in the way, that much dirt built up on the OPPOSITE side. Not sure how I want to deal with this section, though.
Still haven't found the bottom of the fence.
The gate, lock already removed, obviously. Note how the bottom of the gate is not visible; buried too deeply.
Suburban Hermit of Fayetteville signing off.
No comments:
Post a Comment